Project Management Certificate Program - FAQ
Why earn the Stetson University Project Management Certificate?
- For organizations, the certificate program can help create more qualified people who will make the organization better and for business organizations, more competitive.
- For current project managers, the certificate program can help demonstrate your potential, get even better at your job, and get noticed by management.
- For prospective project managers, the certificate program can help earn the attention of employers. What better evidence of ability and commitment?
Can you tell me more about how earning the Stetson certificate and the PMP® credential will benefit me?Certainly! Here are just a few reasons:
- The PMP® credential is recognized worldwide.
- In a tight job market more and more employers are demanding certification as a mark of skills and potential.
- Credentials will differentiate you from others who are not credentialed.
What if I cannot make the first course which is a perequisite to other courses?
It is possible to take some other course with the approval of our instructor. Please contact us so we can evaluate your situation.
What if I cannot make classes that meet during the day?
We understand the commitment and special arrangements required to take classes that are conducted during the day, but the PMP® credential is prestigious, and worth the time and effort to earn. It's very worthwhile to find a way to apply yourself, make the necessary scheduling arrangements, and complete the educational requirements. We run the certificate courses regularly, several times a year, and you have two years to complete the requirements giving you ample time to spread them out if it is difficult to take time off from your daytime commitments.
Is the Stetson certificate program a prep course for the PMP® Exam?
No, but it provides the skills and fundamentals necessary to prepare for taking the exam. We do have a PMP® Exam Prep course, and we offer it when there is demand.
Why not just study on my own for the PMP® exam?
You can. And there are a number of exam prep books you can purchase. However, our program consists of skills-based courses that cover the foundations and topics anticipated to be on the exam. Persons who study on their own risk being book-smart to a very shallow depth and may not be able to understand the nuances of the test questions.
At what level, academically, is this program taught?
The nature of the courses in this professional development program is that they are specific to a field of study (Project Management) and require students to provide insight and relevant experiences necessary for further exploration for research and perspicacious classroom discussions. They are conducted at the upper echelons of Bloom's Taxonomy of Cognitive Domains (synthesis, analysis, evaluation) and are therefore akin to graduate level studies.
Will I need to purchase books or materials for the courses?
No. Each course includes a participant guide specially made to reinforce the learning objectives. These guides become excellent desk references for course graduates when they apply the tools and techniques they have learned.
Are the courses graded?
Yes. Our desire is to ensure that our graduates can use their new skills and abilities. Evaluations help us measure the effectiveness of our efforts. The course is graded A, B, C, D, F. A grade of C or better constitutes successful accomplishment of the objectives. If a letter grade is neither required nor desired, participants may request in advance that course administrators evaluate performance solely on a Pass-Fail basis.
Is there homework?
Yes. But there is not much and some of it can be done in class.
I don't have enough project management time right now to meet the experience requirement for the PMP® exam. What do I do?
Come to our classes and meet the education requiremment for PMI's Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®), a valuable entry-level certification for project practitioners. Designed for those with less project experience, the CAPM® demonstrates your understanding of the fundamental knowledge, terminology and processes of effective project management.
Can I get PDUs from your courses since I have earned the PMP® certification?
Yes, since the Stetson Project Management Curriculum has been developed by a Registered Education Provider of PMI (R.E.P.), all courses can be used as Professional Development Units (PDUs) for continuing certification requirements. These would be recorded as Category 4 -- Other provider. There are no limits on reporting Category 4.
What are the class hours?
They are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Come about 15 minutes early the first day of each course so we can get you checked in.
I'm motivated; how fast can I earn the Stetson certificate?
You can probably earn the Stetson certificate in as little as one term. Please note, however, that our courses are full of excellent content to be mastered, and you will have to diligently apply yourself to the task.
What do I receive after completing the five required courses?
You receive the Stetson University Project Management Certificate. (And each time you successfully complete one of our courses in the certificate program you will receive a Stetson University Letter of Completion with your grade that will also serve as an attendance certificate.)
Does Stetson provide financial assistance?
Financial assistance for certificate-type programs is secured through private lenders. Note that no matter who is the training provider, all tend to go to the same lenders such as Sallie Mae.
Does Stetson have scholarships?
We cannot offer scholarships for our non-credit programs. We are a non-profit university and we have lowered our course costs to the lowest possible consistent with the quality program we deliver. (If you are unemployed, you may be eligible for a Workforce Central Florida training scholarship for this or other Stetson programs. Visit your local Workforce Central Florida office for more information.)
PMP and CAPM are registered certification marks of the Project Management Institute Inc.